Continuous rolling-mill



PatentedIMar. 27, 1883.

M. V. SMITH.

N4 PETERS. Phamulhegmher. waamngtan. n.6.

CONTINUOUS ROLLING: MILL.

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARTlN V. SMITH, OF MCKEESPORT, PENNSYLVANIA.

CONTINUOUS ROLLING-MILL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 274,525, dated March 27, 1883.

Application filed December 31, 1381. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARTIN V. SMITH, of

McKeesport, in the county of Allegheny and drawings, forming a part of this specilication,

iu which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal central section ofmy improved rolling-mill. Fig. 2 is a perspec` tive view of the conductor and a roll at each end thereof, and Fig. 3 is a diagram view ot' one set of rolls illustrating` my invention.

My invention relates to certain improvements in continuous rolling-mills where a series of sets or pairs of horizontal rolls are mounted in common line of feed and the metal is fed from one pair of rolls to the next through or by means of a guide or conductor, the metal being thus gradually reduced by each pair of rolls until brought to the desired size and the rolls being geared to run at dil'erent speeds, so that as the metal is elongated it is fed more rapidly through the mill. In mills ot this generalv construction difliculty has been experienced on laccount of the tendency of the forward end of the plate, hoop, or bar to turn up after passing through one pair of rolls, so that it is not in proper position to feed automatically into the next pass in the mill, and is liable to catch upon any projection on the roof of the guide or against the upper roll of the next pass, and for either reason to buckle or even become jammed in the conductor. The object of my invention is to overcome this difficulty in continuous mills, as well 'as to improve the construction of the guides or condoctors employed between the several sets of rolls.

My invention consists, first, iu forming the top roll of each set or pair in the continuous mill of slightly larger diameter at the workingface than the lower roll, by whichmeans the metal passing through is delivered in a downward direction upon the bottom of the conductor, thus overcoming its tendency to catch against thcconductor-roof, and enabling it to feed more accurately to the next pass 5 and, second, in certain other improvements in the construction of the rolls and in the conductors between the several sets ot' rolls composing the mill.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will describe its construction aud operation.

' My invention is illustrated in connection with rolls for the manufacture of plate for making pipe or tubing, commonly known as pipeiron.77

The mill A is formed4 ot' a series -of sets or pairs of horizontal rolls mounted in common line of feed, there being any desired number in the series, according to the required reduction of the metal, this being determined by thc skilled operator.

The rolls B G, composing each pass or set, are mounted in a suitable housing, D, and are connected iu the usual manner with the driving-gear. The sets ot' rolls shown are composed ot' tongue and groove rolls, and the tongues and grooves' of the alternate sets are reversed, so that while in passing through one set the lins are formed along the upper edges of the plate,

` the next-set rolls ott' these fins and forms fins along the lower edges of the plate, the serious iinning of the metal being thus prevented.

Whether `m y invention is employed with these tongue and groove rolls, with groove-A rolls, or with plain-faced rolls, according to the shape of the metal to be formed, the upper roll, B, in each pass or set is made slightly larger in diameter through its working-face than the diameter through the working-face of its corresponding lower roller, O. The difference of diameter between the two rolls need not be great, its purpose being to obtain a larger circumference, and hence a greater circumferential travel of the upper roll, by which the metal is discharged in a downward direction upon the conductor. The several housings supporting each set of rolls are secured to a suitable bed-plate or otherwise mounted so that lthe rolls are in common line of feed.

Gonductors E are secured between the several set .of rolls, the metal passing from one set along the conductor, and being automaticall yfed into the next set thereby, and thus carried through the entire mill. The bottom plate, e, ot each conductor is supported at the ends on cross-bars fitting in seats in the housings, and its back or receiving end, e', rests against the roll, so as to strip the metal therefrom as it is delivered. The bottom plate, e, is made of cast-iron, and the sides f of the conductor are so secured thereto as to be adjustable to different widths of pass. The bottom plate has transverse slots g formed therein, one on either side, near each end, and the sides f have boltholes j" corresponding in position to these slots, through which bolts h are passed to secure the sides to the plate, the nuts being unscrewed a short distance and the sides adjusted to the desired pass, the bolts sliding in the slots g, and the plates then secured in place by screwing up the nuts. The sides can thus be adjusted to feed the metal accurately into the next pass. The top 7c of the conductor is formed of a plate of wrought metal bent to the shape desired, it being bent at its delivery end so as to form au enlargement, l, in the conducting-space in front of the next pass of the rolls, to allow for any slight buckling of the metal when passing through, this enlargement y the top plate, k, fits against the roll so as to act as a stripper, and is hung on a rod, n, attached to the end of a weighted lever, p, so that it is always held to the surface of the roll.

The operation of my improved rolling-mill is as follows: The billet or pile, when brought to the proper heat, is fed to the first set or pair of rolls, which may either be formed of horizontal rolls or of vertical groo ved rolls, as at It, which grasp the sides of the billet or pile and iorce it into the first set of horizontal rolls. the metal passes through the first set of horizontal rolls on account of the larger circumference, and consequently greater speed or travel of the upper roll, it draws more on the metal, and

therefore prevents the turning up of the for ward end of the plate, and discharges it in a slightly downward direction upon the bottom of the conductor. As the metal is thus discharged in a downward direction its tendency is to hold to the bottom of the conductor, so

that there is no liability of its jamming against are not geared to run at the proper relative speeds, and as the metal naturally buckles'in front of the next pair of rolls,.room is provided for it to bend up in the enlargement l' of the conductor, so that it does not jam up in the shallow part of the conductor, and on. account of the shape of the enlargement it aids in forcing the metal through the rolls in case of serious buckling. The sides of the conductor can be adjusted in the manner above described to feed the metal accurately into the next pass as well as to s uit another width of Aplate or bar in case the rolls are changed, the same conductors being thus capable of use in rolling many different widths of metal.

I am aware that continuous rolling-mills have been formed of tongue and groove rolls and suitableconductors wherein the tongue and groove of the alternate pairs were recessed, and the tongue-roll was of greater diameter than the groove-roll, the upper roll in4 each alternate pair being thus larger than the corresponding lower roll, and the upper roll in the other pairsbeing smaller than the corresponding lower rolls. In these continuous mills, however, the same difficulties were experienced which I have overcome,'as the metal in passing through each alternate pair -was thrown up against the cond uctor-roof, and thus caused to jam or buckle.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

' 1. Acontinuous millforrolling metal,formed of a series of two or more pairs of horizontal rolls arranged in common line of feed and guides or conductors between the pairs Aof rolls, the upper roll of each pair being larger in diameter at its working-face than its corresponding lower roll, substantially as and for the purposes set forth. v

2. Acontinuous mill forrolling metal, form ed of a series of two or more pairs ot' horizontal' tongue and groove rolls and guidesor conductors between the pairs of rolls, the tongues and grooves of the alternate pairs being reversed,v andthe upper roll of each pair being largerin diameter at its workin g face than its corresponding lower roll, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. A covered guide or conductor for conducting met-al between the sets of rolls in continuous rolling-mills, having an enlargement at the delivery end to allow for buckling, substantially as set forth.

4. In rolling-mill guides or conductors, the combination of the bottom plate, e, having transverse slots g, with the sides f, and fastening-bolts h, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I,.the said MARTIN V. SMITH, have hereunto set my hand.

' .MARTIN V. SMITH.

Witnesses:

DANIEL N. HERWIG, J AMES I. KAY.

IIO 

